Summary:
In zip code 34981, there is one middle school, Forest Grove Middle School, serving grades 6 through 8 in Fort Pierce, Florida, as part of the St. Lucie district.
Forest Grove Middle School is a school of stark contrasts. It has a strong program for advanced math students, with 86% proficiency in Algebra 1 and 98% in Geometry, far exceeding district and state averages. However, the school struggles significantly with on-grade-level math, particularly in 6th grade (27% proficient) and 7th grade (15% proficient), which are well below the state averages of 60% and 53%, respectively. The school has shown impressive year-over-year improvement in several areas, including Civics (jumping from 56% to 75% proficiency) and 8th grade Science (from 36% to 53%). Its chronic absenteeism rate of 21.4% is notably lower than the district (34.4%) and state (31.4%), a positive sign for student engagement. The school’s overall state ranking has improved from the 23rd percentile to the 34th percentile over the last three years, earning a 2-star rating.
The key takeaway for parents is that Forest Grove Middle School excels at accelerating top math students but faces a critical challenge in bringing the majority of its 6th and 7th graders up to grade-level math proficiency. The 8th grade cohort appears to be the strongest, meeting or exceeding state averages in both ELA and Math. With over 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school’s relative strength in chronic absenteeism is a notable achievement. The school’s success will likely depend on replicating the strategies used for its advanced math students and its successful 8th-grade cohort across all grade levels and subjects.
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